Voice Actress Maaya Uchida’s First Open-Air Concert Report

Maaya Uchida held her first open-air concert, +INTERSECT♡SUMMER+, on 1 July at Hibiya Outdoor Theater. Her 5th album, +INTERSECT+, released on 21 June 2017, ranked 8th on the weekly Oricon charts.

On the day of the concert, it was raining from the early morning but, fortunately, the skies had cleared up by the afternoon. After a while, it was completely sunny and almost 3000 fans gathered at the venue.

When it was time for the concert to begin, a nostalgic opening theme video began to play on the monitor in the center of the stage. The video was very cute and made one think that they were on ‘a date with Maaya Uchida.’ The atmosphere of the theater changed to adoration for Maaya and the title of the concert finally appeared onscreen. Then, the intro to the first song, ‘+INTERSECT+’, played and Maaya came onstage wearing a red dress. Although it was the first song of the concert, she kept up with the 4 MAAYA dancers.

Maaya’s first words in the talking section were ‘The sun came out!’ and the fans responded with cheers. Both parties were happy that the concert was able to take place in good weather. Also, when Maaya said, ‘The concert’s concept is a summer date with me’, the audience erupted into cheers and applause.

‘Cross-fire’, which was performed in the middle of the concert, began with a call and response. It is an energetic song and Maaya and the audience members sang in unison while spinning their towels in the air. In the middle of this exciting performance, Maaya and the dancers aimed water guns at the audience and let loose water hell. The fans were happy to receive such a refreshing fan service. As the water guns weren’t enough, a huge hydraulic pump was brought onto the stage. The water guns were completely forgotten as the audience was drenched in water!

Then, on Maaya’s suggestion, she took a picture with the audience. The bandmaster of the MAAYA Band, Katsuhiko Kurosu, was the designated photographer and his silence as he took the pictures evoked laughter from the fans.

As evening approached, the atmosphere became moody as so often happens with outdoor venues. Maaya sat in a highchair onstage and said, ‘I can only be with all of you for a moment but I pray that I will be able to look at this view again.’ Then she quiet began singing ‘Kiniro no Yuuki’. When the performance ended, a compilation of imaged played onscreen signaling the ‘end of the date’ and Maaya conveyed her feelings saying, ‘I will never forget the memories made today.’

She returned to the stage in a yukata to perform ‘Moratorium Dance Floor’. Red glow sticks lit up from the audience as they sat in the darkness left behind by the setting sun. Maaya charmed them as she performed the choreography to the catchy song with her dancers. As the end of the concert neared, a lift came on stage. Hovering 3 meters above the audience, they threw hand towels down and Maaya left the stage amid a never-ending applause.

However, the audience called for Maaya as they clapped and the call for an encore rang throughout the venue. After a while, Maaya lived up to the fans’ expectations and came onstage once again in a concert t-shirt. Maaya spoke of the feelings kept hidden in her heart, ‘I want to use this concert and grow more as a person’ and at the end, she said, ‘It’s a date until you get home!’ She then performed a cover of RC Succession’s ‘Ame Agari no Yozora ni’. Surrounded by smoke, it was a performance that gave the audience a peek at Maaya’s taste in rock that isn’t usually seen.

Last, the song that shares the title of the concert, ‘+INTERSECT+’ was performed again. Maaya ran all around the stage while singing and holding the water gun in her hand. Her very successfully first open-air concert then came to an end.